Job Opportunity: Program Specialist

Job Opening: Program Specialist

The UPEACE Centre for Executive Education (the Centre) is growing! As a small, entrepreneurial organization within the UN-mandated University for Peace, fit is everything. If you feel that you would be a strong addition to our dynamic team, you should apply to join us in Costa Rica. The application information can be found at the bottom of this post.

Job DescriptionThe Program Specialist will be a key team player in our organization. She/he will be responsible for hosting group courses in Costa Rica, as well as contributing strongly to marketing and new business development for online and onsite course offerings. We host up to 15 short-term programs annually, with experiences ranging from just 1 day to 3 weeks. During visits, the Program Specialist will serve as a cultural interpreter, guide, teacher, and all-around point person for incoming groups. When groups aren’t in town, the Program Specialist will help out with marketing, logistics and new business development for our other programs. In our hands-on, entrepreneurial context, everyone pitches in on all efforts, and it’s important to note that we expect the right candidate not to limit themselves to the bullet points below, but to be constantly looking for new and innovative ways to push beyond this in the best interests of the Centre. Due to the nature of our work, this role will require some flex hours including evenings and weekends. The Program Specialist reports to the Director of the Centre for Executive Education, Julia Delafield.

Specific duties include:

University Groups* Guide incoming visiting university or other groups on field visits and travel in Costa Rica; conducting debriefs and/or short presentations to engage the students and help them understand digest learning materials; serve as primary translator on field visits and during meals/travel; travel as needed within Costa Rica.
* Seek out and cultivate relationships with local organizations and businesses that can provide field visits or serve as speakers for visiting groups in different areas and topics
* Arrange group logistics including hotels, visits, meals and transportation as needed

Professional Development workshops* Provide support and actively engage with incoming participants in professional development workshops, from pitching in with coffee breaks to leading campus tours and helping participants understand how they may further engage with UPEACE moving forward

New Business Development* Help seek out and cultivate potential partners and collaborators for online and onsite courses

Marketing and advertisements* Find new venues and maintain current marketing channels for all Centre courses, including websites, FB groups, newspapers/magazines and more
* Direct email marketing to our database

Represent the Centre at selected fairs and outside events

Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications:

Bilingual or fluent in Spanish and English **Required

University degree (preferably in international relations, languages, community development, business administration)

Experience in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment

Strong personal skills and a desire to meet new people and interact with different cultures

Self-directed, proactive, attentive to detail and a team player

Commitment and a sense of personal dedication to the role of education, social innovation, and global competency in our ever-changing world

Able to travel and manage a flex schedule that requires evenings and weekends when we run courses

Physically fit enough to lead short hikes and maintain energy throughout field visits

Base Salary: $1,500 + strong benefits package

TO APPLY:

By October 11, 2017, please send a copy of your resume, in English, and answers to the questions below to jobshr@upeace.org.

In lieu of a traditional cover letter, please answer the questions in 600 words or less (for all three responses). Please note that for question 2, you may choose to answer a. or b. depending on your experience.

Please tell us a bit about yourself and what attracts you to this position.

a. Tell us about a partnership or program that you were instrumental in developing. What was your role in its creation, and how did this help further the goals of your business or organization?
OR
b. Alternatively, tell us about a marketing campaign that you were instrumental in putting together. What was it for? Who was the audience and what was the impact of the campaign? What was your role?

Now a fun one: Tell about a the most memorable get together you organized – whether a party, a reunion, or a surprise celebration for someone else. What made it particularly memorable for you?

Upcoming Courses

Testimonials

"I originally looked into the Centre's online courses as part of my research into 21st century learning methods. However I was so enraptured with their offerings that really spoke to my passions and interests that I also signed on to take the whole Diploma in Social Innovation!"

Resource Centre

Testimonials

"This immersion program has greatly changed, not only my life as a student, but also my public health lens as professional. I have learned so much about the integrative aspects of culture, human rights, environment and sustainable health practices, throughout this short course, that I feel life will never be the same. I highly encourage anyone who wants to be inspired, stimulated, engaged and challenged to participate in this program."

Alessandra Khodaverdi, University of San Francisco, MPH Program

"As the professor on these three trips, I could not have been more pleased with the level of professionalism, the experiential leaning opportunities and attention to detail that the faculty constantly provided for our students. The accommodations were lovely, the food delicious and the cost of the program extremely reasonable. In the students own words, 'The experience was priceless!'"